Mobile self-erecting marine platforms



Jan. 24, 1961 i. w. MANGONE MOBILE SELF-ERECTING MARINE PLATFORMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1955 Jan. 24, 1961 l. w. MANGONE 2,968,930 MOBILE SELF-ERECTING MARINE PLATFQRMS Filed Oct. 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 II I n m /v0n M Mango/1e Jan. 24, 1961 I. w. MANGONE MOBILE SELF-ERECTING MARINE PLATFORMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lm'enfiar:

/van W Malaya/2e Filed Oct. 12, 1955 Jan. 24, 1961 w. MANGONE MOBILE SELF-ERECTING MARINE PLATFORMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 12, 1955 /m en7'0r /wm 11/ Mangone United States Patent MOBILE SELF-ERECTING MARINE PLATFORMS Ivan W. Mangone, Houston, Tex., assignor to Offshore Structures & Service Co., Houston, Tex., a partnership Filed Oct. 12, 1955, Ser. No. 539,960

1 Claim. (Cl. 61-465) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in off-shore well drilling equipment, and more particularly the invention concerns itself satisfy all of the foregoing requirements, this being attained by the provision of a platform consisting primarily of a buoyant platform member surrounded by a framework which may be raised and lowered relative to the platform member so as to be selectively floated thereby and rested on the sea bed.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of an articulated framework having complemental, hinged sections adapted for folding and unfolding movement between a horizontally extended travelling position and an erected operative position, whereby the entire apparatus may be conveniently transported even in relatively shallow water and quickly erected at the site of operation without the use of any auxiliary equipment such as floating cranes, and the like.

Another feature of the invention involves the provision of self-contained means for anchoring the framework of the platform to the sea bed, and further means for loosening the anchoring means from the sea bed when the apparatus is to be moved to another location.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention resides in the arrangement of parts and details of construction substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view thereof, taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 4 is an end view, similar to that shown in Figure 2 but with the platform member raised relative to the framework;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale of the anchoring means;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 7-7 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the anchoring screw of Figure 5 provided with means for loosening the same;

Figure 9 is a sectional detail of another form of anchoring means;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, showing the articulated framework in the act of folding or unfolding;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view showing a modified arrangement of the articulated framework in the act of folding or unfolding; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 11 with the framework sections extended.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly to Figures l-4 thereof, the mobile self-erecting marine platform is designated by the general reference numeral 20 and consists primarily of two main components, namely, a buoyant platform member 21 and a structural framework 22 which surrounds the same.

The platform member 21 is of any suitable construction and is provided in one end portion thereof with an open-sided recess 23 to accommodate a conventional well head 24, as will be clearly apparent.

The framework 22 is fabricated from structural material including a plurality of upwardly extending members 25 which may be either girders or tubes and which may, if desired, be hollow to assist in the buoyancy of the apparatus as a whole. In any event, the members 25 are secured together by horizontal struts 26 and cross braces 27 and it is to be noted that the end portion of the framework 22 at the recessed end of the platform member 21 is open so as to aiford a passage 28 for the well head 24 when the apparatus is to be moved in or out from around the well head.

The platform member 21 is operatively connected to the framework 22 by hoist lines 29, 30 operated by Winches 31 aboard the platform member, it being understood from the foregoing that by actuating these winches the platform member may be raised or lowered relative to the framework, and vice versa.

This basic form of the invention is intended primarily for use in relatively deep water and, with the framework 22 raised relative to the platform member 21 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the entire apparatus may be floated to the desired site of operation, as for example, around the well head 24. By actuating the winches 31 the framework 22 may be lowered with respect to the platform member so that the framework rests on the sea bed 32, as illustrated in Figure 4. Moreover, the platform member 21 may be raised relative to the framework as shown in the same figure, so that it is well clear of the highest wave crest on the water level 33.

As shown in Figures 4-8, means are provided for anchoring the framework 22 to the sea bed, these means consisting of a set of anchoring screws 34 disposed in the corner portions of the framework and having spiral flights 35 supportably engaged by rotatable rollers 36 carried by suitable brackets 37 secured to the framework members 25. The screws 34 may be rotated by any suitable means so that they are projected downwardly from the framework 22 into the sea bed 32.

When the apparatus is to be moved to another location, the screws 34 are retracted into the framework and, as shown in Figure 8, means may be provided for loosening the screws from the sea bed by breaking the skin friction thereon. Such means comprise a channel-shaped member 33 enclosing in spaced relation the marginal edge 35 of the screw flight 35 and secured to the screw flight at spaced intervals, such as by spot welding 39. Suitable means are provided for delivering fluid such as air or water under pressure into the member 38 so that it is discharged through the spaces between the spot welds 39 to break skin friction on the screw flight 35. It will be also observed that the member 38 constitutes a marginal cutting edge for the screw flight.

As an addition to or an alternative for the anchoring means already described, another form of anchoring for the framework 22 is shown in Figure 9, wherein 551E111 inverted channel 40 is provided at the bottom edge of the framework to engage the sea bed.

When .-such a channel becomes embeddedin mud, lighter fluid such as air or water may be pumped into the channel through I asuitable-oonduit 41 to develop a sufiicient lift for supporting the entire apparatus.

"channel 40 eifectively. re'sist lateral movement from cur-j The side flanges of the rents at the sea bed and provide effective anchoring means as skin friction with the muddevelops thereon.

Means similar to that shown in Figure 8 are used for "breaking the skin friction and loosening'the channel 40 when the apparatus is to be moved, these means com- 1 prising channel-shapedmembers 42 provided at the lower edges of the channel 40 and secured thereto at spaced points '43. Air, or water under pressure is delivered into The accompanying Figures 10-12 show a modified form of the framework structure primarily intended for use in relativelyshallow water. As such,Figure 10 illustrates the buoyant platform member 21 and a framework of an articulatedconstruction comprising a pair of complemental half-sections 22a and 2212 which are pivotally connected together as indicated at 45 so that theymay be swung from the erected, operative position to a horizontal-ly extended, substantially flat transporting position, as indicatediby the arrows 46. 3

When the sections 22a, 22bare drawn together they assume the erected operative position as shown in Figures 1-4, but when they are unfolded into the lgprizontally extended .pdsition, they are substantially flat and have a very shallow draft so that the entire apparatus may be conveniently transported eveli in shallow water.

ported, erected and relocated without the use of auxiliary equipment such as floating cranes, and .the like. While in the foregoing there have been shown and described'the preferred embodiments of the invention,

various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is notdesired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications may be resorted. to, such'as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is:'

In a mobile self-erecting marine platform, the combination of an upstanding marginal framework having a substantially rectangular plan when erected and defining a rectangular opening at the-center thereof, said framework comprising, a pair of complemental half-sections of a U- shaped plan when erected, said half-sections having ppper and lower edges and pairs of opposing side edges which are in abutment when the framework is erected, hinge 7 means provided on said opposing side edges at said lower edges of. said half-sections whereby the same may be swung from their erected position outwardly and down wardly to a substantially horizontal travelling position wherein; their lower edges are in abutment, a substantially rectangular buoyant platform ,rn gmber disposed in said opening and having its marginal edges spaced in cables extending from said winch, means to upper edge portions of said half-sections whereby the same may be 7 v swung between their erected and travelling positions and The sections 22a and 22!) are folded and unfolded by suitable lines 47 connected to winches 48 aboard the platform member 21 and the raising and lowering ofthe framework relative to the platform mefniier is effected by hoist lines 49 connected to the pivots 45 and/or other points on the strueture.

.In a slightly modified embodiment of the inverition shown in-Fignres 11 and 12, the sections 22a and 22b are the framework is'such that the apparatus may be transwhereby said. platform member may be raised relative to the frameit'tork when the latter is erected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 131,746 Dubois Oct. 1,1372 1,531,371 Belkna Mar. 31, 1925 2,430,014 Hansen -I Nov. 4, 1947 2,581,098 Guenzel Ian-1, 1952 2,600,761 Halliburton June 17,1952 2,608,829 Knapp Sept. 2, 1952 2,621,485 Ross Dec. 16, 1952 2,622,404 Rice Dec. 23, 1952 

